Mediation date set in city suit

A federal mediator will meet late this month with attorneys for the city of Tonganoxie and owners of three downtown businesses in an attempt to iron out differences.

The business owners filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court last November.

On Sept. 29, the two sides will sit down with a federal mediator in an attempt to settle the lawsuit, which alleges the city violated the business owners' civil rights by boycotting their companies. Mediation is required in all federal civil cases.

The lawsuit was brought by John Lenahan, Roger and Phyllis Shilling and Don Pelzl against the city of Tonganoxie, as well as former Mayor John Franiuk, city attorney Mike Crow and former City Administrator Chris Clark. Crow and Clark have been dismissed as defendants in the suit.

If mediation is not successful in settling the lawsuit, it will go to trial at 9:30 a.m. March 2 in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan.